Combined handle and pouring spout



May 4, 1965 A. H. MARLER 3,181,733

COMBINED HANDLE AND POURING SPOUT Filed April 8, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 4, 1965 A. H. MARLER COMBINED HANDLE AND POURING SPOUT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 8, 1963 INVENTOR 77 9! )fizn/er' BY %%Z2 WWI/S".

y 4, 1965 A. H. MARLER 3,181,733

COMBINED HANDLE AND POURING SPOUT Filed April 8, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 1N VEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,181,733 COMBINED HANDLE AND POURING SPOUT Arnold H. Marler, 8 Wendell Ave., Weston, 7 W Ontario, Canada Filed Apr. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 271,256 r. .11 Claims, (Cl. 222-33) This invention relates to a combined handle and pouring spout for containers and, more particularly, to a device of this type adapted to be attached toand detached from conventional milk cartonsand thelikel" An objectof this invention is to provide a device of this type having means for piercing or perforating the container to form at least one opening therein connected to the pouring spout whereby the contents of the container may be dispensed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this type in which the piercing meansforms two spaced openings in the container, one of which is adapted to admit air into the container to dissipate any vacuum therein and'the other of which is connected to' the pouring spout and through which the contents of 'the'conta'iner is adapted to pass. f

Still another object of the invention is to provide a structure of this type inwhich the piercing device, after perforating the container, acts to seal the openings formed thereby and to provide communication between the interior of the container and the perforations.

A further object of the invention is to porvide a structure of this type in which the piercing means actsto hold the device to the container during the pouring and handling operations. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the carton.

' The body portion 15 of the device is 3,181,733 Patented May 4, 1965 "ice carton 10 of the conventional type having the usual top fold 11 and angular or triangular end folds 12. The top portions 13 between the triangular end folds 12.are of a. single thickness in-conventional milk cartons, andwthe dimensions'of the device about to'be described are so chosen as to position the device on the carton so that the piercing means engages the single thickness portions 13 The device consists of a b ody portion 15 which is provided with a transversely extending, vertically arranged channel portion 16'adapted to engage theitopfold 11 of the carton, and'with a pair of oppositely extending, an guiarly arranged channel members 17 adapted to engage the triangular folds 12- of the carton. The channeliportions in and 17 are engaged with the top .fold.11. and angularly arranged folds-12 by-sliding-theisame thereon, as will be apparentfrom FIGURE- 1. Thedimension of the parts 17 is' such that when the device is, fully engaged with the carton; the body portion will be. arranged in proximity to'the singlethiekness wall portiong-l3 of the carton. hollow and consists of two vertically extending spaced side walls 20. On one end of the body 15 there is provided .a handle 21 by which the device may be grasped to lift and manipulate the carton 10 and to tilt the same to pouringposition. The body, opposite thehandle 21; is shaped to form a pouring spout 22. The pouring spout 22 is provided with a discharge opening 23 adapted'to be closed byia slidable of this type which is so reduced inthe number and character of its component parts as to approach the ultimate in structural simplicity and whereby the device may be conveniently made of a suitable plasticmaterial by molding.

Another 0 of this type wherein its structural simplicity creates an economy in its manufacture, assembly and maintenance.

The various objects and advantages, and the novel deject of the invention is to provide a device tails of construction of one commercially practical em bodiment of the invention, will becomeimore apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing the device of this invention-attachedto a conventional milk carton;

FIGURE 2 is atop planview of the deviceattached to a milk carton;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional elevational' view taken substantially on the plane indicated by line 3-3 in FIGURE Z;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 with the' piercing member. poised in position to pierce the carton;

FIGURE 5 is a. sectionalelevational view taken sub stantially on the plane indic'atedby line55 in FIGURE tion of arrow 6 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 7, 8,- 9.and 10 are detail fragmentary secin- FIGURE 3;

,FIGURE 6 is aii elevational view looking iii the direc--' closure 24 having a dovetail connection 25 withthe; upper edges of the walls ofithe housing 15. A finger piece 26 on the sliding closure 24 provides convenient means for slidingthe closure-24 from the openpositionillustrated in FIGURE 3 to the closed position. illustrated in FIGURE 4. I

Rotatably or pivotally mounted betweenfthe' walls of the housing 15 is a cutting or piercing member 30. Thismember is 'arcuate shaped in cross section, as shown best in FIGURES 3 and '4, and is vpivotallyi mounted: on a pivot pin 31 extending between the walls 20. of the housing. The round pivot pin 31 is provided witha pair of opposed flat portions 32 to facilitate the engagement of a tubular or sleeve-like bearing portion 33 carried by the piercing member 30. r V i It should be understood that the constructiomof the device is such that it may be molded from plastic material or the like and, in order tofacilitate' the engagement of the sleeve-like bearing portion 33-with thepivot pin 31,

the bearing portion is provided with a longitudinally exslot 34 will leavethe flat portions 32 so that the piercing member will not become-accidentally disconnected. This FIGURE 11 is a dear fragmentary sectional view taken on line -1111 of FIGURE, 2; and p FIGURE 12 is a detail iragmentary sectional view' taken on line 1212 in FIGURE].

This invention rela'testo a combined spout and piercing-means for, containersand, more particularly, to, a; device of this type adaptedtorbe attached to and detached from conventional milk cartons and the like;

handle, pouring In several figuresjotthe drawings there is illustrated a construction provides a simple but .expedientmethod oi assembling the piercing member with the body of the device, as will be apparent. I 1'5 1,

The cutting orpiercingmein er is providedwith 2 finger piece 35 at one end for manipulatingthe same and a flat top 36 adapted to lie flush withthe top of the body portion 15- when the/piercing member is inithe posi tion'illustr'ated in FIGURE 3. Theiin'ner endof the pierc ing member '30 is providedwith ajcutting or. piercing enr 37 which is substantially triangular in'c'rosssection, a. illustrated in FIGURE 8. The piercing' end 37; may b: integral withand f ormed as {apart of thepie'rcing mernbe 30, or it may be inthe form-of a separate stainless stee metal membermolded thereto.

When the piercing member V30is moved irorrrits per pendicular position illustrated in FIGURE 4 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 3, it will pierce the carton at two spaced points to form apertures 38 and 39, as shown in FIGURE 3. The inner edge of the piercing member 30 is provided with one or more longitudinally extending channels 40 which provide communication with the interior of the carton 10. The aperture 38 is an air inlet aperture to permit air to flow into the carton when its contents are being emptied to dissipate any vacuum therein, and the aperture 39 is the pouring aperture which communicates with the nozzle 22.

It will be noted that the piercing end 37 of the piercing member 30, at the end of the movement of the piercing member, enters the spout 22. In view of the fact that the piercing end 37 is triangular in cross section, it forms triangular-shaped flaps 38a and 39a about the apertures 38 and 39 which are adapted to snugly engage the piercing member 30 to prevent any leakage from the carton around the piercing member; see FIGURES 3 and 10. Thus, the piercing member not only pierces the carton to provide the openings 38 and 39, but acts to seal these openings against the accidental discharge of the contents of the carton.

The finger piece 35 of the piercing member is curved, as illustrated in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5, so as to lie flush with the handle 21 when the piercing member is in the position illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 5. In manipulating the device, the handle 21 is grasped by the finger of the operator, and the thumb engages the ridge 35a on the finger piece 35 of the piercing member 30 so as to assist in holding the piercing member 30 in the position illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 5 during the pouring operation. To further assist in holding the piercing member 30 in this position, the side walls thereof are provided with wedge-shaped lugs 41 adapted to engage correspondingly shaped recesses 42 formed in the side walls 20 of the housing; see particularly FIGURES 3 and 9. The lugs 41 snap into the recesses 42 when the piercing member is in the position illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 9.

As will be apparent from a comparison of FIGURES 4 and 3, the piercing member is movable from a position substantially perpendicular to the body, as illustrated in FIGURE 4, to a position substantially flush therewith, as illustrated in FIGURE 3. During this movement of the piercing member, the piercing and 37 first pierces the carton portion 13 to form the aperture 38 and then pierces the second aperture 39 to form the pouring opening, and, during its continued movement it extends through the pouring opening 39, and into the spout 22, as shown in FIGURE 3. It will be obvious that with the piercing member 30 in engagement with the apertures 38 and 39, as shown in FIGURE 3, accidental displacement of the device from the carton is prevented.

To remove the device from the carton, the piercing member 30 is moved to its substantially perpendicular position illustrated in FIGURE 4 and the device is slid laterally off of the folds 11 and 12 of the carton. The flaps 38a extend inwardly of the carton and thus do not interfere with this lateral movement of the device. The flaps 39a extend outwardly but, inasmuch as they are triangular in shape, as shown in FIGURE 10, the lateral movement of the device will depress these flaps so that they will not interfere with the removal of the device from the carton.

In order to confine the fluid being poured, the body is formed with an inner wall 22a constituting the inner wall of the spout 22;see FIGURES 3 and 4.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the device maybe assembled with the carton by sliding the channel portions 16 and 17 over the folds 11 and 12 of the carton. When the device is first assembled with the carton, the piercing member 30 is in the position illustrated in FIG- URE 4. Thereupon, the finger piece 35 of the piercing member may be engaged by the operator to move the piercing member from the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 to that illustrated in FIGURE 3 to successively form the spaced apertures 38 and 39, and the piercing member 30 in its final position has its piercing end 37 extending into the spout 22. As explained, the flaps 38a and 39a snugly engage the piercing member so as to prevent any leakage at these apertures. The channels 40 in the piercing member communicate with the interior of the carton so that air may flow through these channels and through the aperture 38 to dissipate any vacuum created in the carton. During the pouring operation, the contents of the carton also flow through these channels 40 and out through the aperture 39 and the spout 22 when the closure 24 is open. Thus, the device provides a combination handle, pouring spout and piercing means for cartons.

The structure is so reduced in the number and character of its component parts as to approach the ultimate in structural simplicity, thereby permitting it to be conveniently made of any suitable plastic, by molding. Also, the construction of the pivot pin 31 and bearing 33 permits the easy assembly of these two molded parts.

While one commercially practical embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated herein somewhat in detail, it will be understood that various changes may be made as may come within the purview of the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the class described for milk cartons and the like having a top fold and triangular end folds, said device comprising, a body portion provided with channelshaped portions adapted to embrace said top and end folds of the carton, a pouring spout on one end of said body in contact with said carton, a handle portion on the other end of said body, an arcuate-shaped member having a piercing end, and means for rotatably mounting said member on said body intermediate said spout and handle for movement from a position substantially perpendicular to said body to a position substantially flush therewith, whereby said piercing end will enter the carton at a point spaced from said spout and will subsequently pierce the carton from the inside thereof and extend into said spout to form a dispensing opening in alignment with said spout.

2. A device of the class described for use with milk cartons and the like having a top fold and triangular end folds, said device comprising, a hollow body portion provided with channel-shaped portions adapted to engage the top and end folds of the carton, a handle portion on said body, said body being shaped to form a pouring spout in contact with the carton, an arcuate-shaped member having a piercing end, and means ror pivotally mounting said member within said body between said spout and handle for movement from a position substantially perpendicular to said body to a position substantially within said body, whereby said piercing end will pierce and enter the carton at a point spaced from said spout and will subsequently pierce the carton from the inside thereof to form a dispensing opening in communication with said pouring spout.

3. A device of the class described for use with milk cartons and the like having a top fold and triangular end folds, said device comprising, a hollow body portion provided with channel-shaped portions adapted to engage the top and end folds of the carton, a handle portion on said body, said body being shaped to form a pouring spout in contact with the carton, an arcuate-shaped piercing member having a piercing end, means for pivotally mounting said member within said hollow body, and a finger piece on said member for moving the same from a position substantially perpendicular to said body to a position substantially within saidbody whereby said piercing end will enter the carton at a point spaced from the spout and will subsequently pierce the carton from the inside thereof to successively form an air entrance aperture and a discharge aperture, the latter aperture communicating with said pouring spout.

4. A device as described in claim 3 in which said memher and body are provided with a rib and recess interengaging to hold said member in its position within said body.

5. A device as described in claim 3 in which the piercing end of said member is substantially triangular in cross section, whereby triangular-shaped flaps are formed on the periphery of the apertures in the carton.

6. A device as described in claim 3 in which the pivotal mounting for said arcuate-shaped member consists of a round pivot pin carried by said body having opposed flat portions and a sleeve-like bearing portion on said member having a longitudinal slot adapted to pass over said flat portions to permit engagement of the pivot pin and bearing portion.

7. A device as described in claim 3 in which said member is provided with channels providing communication between the interior of the carton and said apertures.

8. A device of the class described for pierceable containers comprising, a body portion provided with means for attaching the same to the container, a pouring spout on said body in contact with said container, a cutter having a cutting end, and means for mounting said cutter on said body whereby said cutter may be moved to cause the cutting end thereof to enter the container at a point spaced from the spout and to continue so that the cutting end pierces the container from the inside thereof and projects into said spout to form a dispensing opening in alignment with said spout.

9. A device of the class described for milk cartons and the like comprising, a body portion provided with means for attaching the same to the carton, a pouring spout on one end of said body portion in contact with the carton, a piercing member having a piercing end, and means for mounting said piercing member on said body whereby said piercing member may be moved to cause the piercing end thereof to enter the carton at a point spaced from the spout to form an air entrance opening and to continue so that the piercing member pierces the carton from the inside thereof and projects into said spout to form a dispensing opening in alignment with said spout.

10. A device of the class described for pierceable containers such as milk cartons and the like comprising, a body portion provided with means for attaching the same to the container, a pouring spout on said body in engagement with said container, an arcuate-shaped cutter having a cutting end, means for rotatably mounting said cutter on said body, and means for rotating said cutter whereby the cutting end thereof will be caused to enter the container at a point spaced from said spout and to continue whereby the cutting end pierces the container from the inside thereof to form a dispensing opening in alignment with said spout.

11. A device of the class described for pierceable containers such as milk cartons and the like comprising, a body portion provided with means for attaching the same to the container, a pouring spout on said body in engagement with said container, an arcuate-shaped cutter having a cutting end, means for rotatably mounting said cutter on said body, and means for rotating said cutter whereby the cutting end thereof will first pierce and enter the container at a point spaced from said spout to form an air entrance opening and upon further movement the cutting end will pierce the container from the inside and extend into said spout to form a dispensing opening in communication with said spout.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,068,471 1/37 Riedl 222 s3 3,017,215 1/62 Galipeau 222 -1s3 X LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

HADD S. LANE, Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED FOR MILK CARTONS AND THE LIKE HAVING A TOP FOLD AND TRIANGULAR END FOLDS, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING, A BODY PORTION PROVIDED WITH CHANNELSHAPED PORTIONS ADAPTED TO EMBRACE SAID TOP AND END FOLDS OF THE CARTON, A POURING SPOUT ON ONE END OF SAID BODY IN CONTACT WITH SAID CARTON, A HANDLE PORTION ON THE OTHER END OF SAID BODY, AND ARCUATE-SHAPED MEMBER HAVING A PIERCING END, AND MEANS FOR ROTATABLY MOUNTING SAID MEMBER ON SAID BODY INTERMEDIATE SAID SPOUT AND HANDLE FOR MOVEMENT FROM A POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR 